"I'm fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes - the finer things of life - would make you happy. My concept of happiness is to be filled in a spiritual sense."
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Coretta Scott King (April 27, 1927-January 30, 2006) Background Recognized as the devoted and resilient wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King had an amazing and influential life of her own. Her life began in Heiberger, Alabama, where she was born to farmers Obadiah Scott and Bernice Scott. She had two siblings who were named Obie and Edythe. Because of segregation, she was forced to walk to a distant, run-down school, while her white counterparts rode a bus to a better school in a more convenient location. King attended a private high school called Lincoln High School. During this time, she picked cotton and did maid work to support herself. She was a strong student, especially in the area of music, and she graduated at the top of her class in 1945. Upon receiving a scholarship, Scott continued her studies at Antioch College, where her older sister had pursued her higher education. There, her interest in the Civil Rights Movement began. The events taking place at that time inspired her to join the college's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music and Education in 1949 and went on to get a Master's Degree in Voice and Violin at the New England Conservatory of Music. She had one a fellowship to continue her education there, but she still had to work, this time as a maid and a mail order clerk. Scott met Dr. King during this time, who was pursuing a doctorate degree in theology at Boston University. They were married on June 18, 1953 by Martin Luther King, Sr. Notably, Mrs. King opted not to include the vow to obey her husband. They had four children together: Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine. Career Highlights During the beginning of her married life, Coretta Scott King stayed out of the limelight for the most part. Her husband had become a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Times of leisure abruptly ended with the turn of events that accompanied the Civil Rights Movement, notably the Montgomery Bus Boycott inspired by Rosa Parks, of which Dr. King was chosen to be a leader. To her husband's slight dismay, Mrs. King refused to stand on the sidelines. She spoke on the behalf of not only African Americans, but also other racial minorities, women, and homosexuals and advocated equality for all. She spoke before colleges, peace groups, and church congregations. Though she had given up singing as a career, King was able to make good use of her musical training by participating in Freedom Concerts, which exhibited music selections, poetry, and speeches. The couple's voyages to various world sites, particularly their honeymoon in Mexico in 1958, showed them that poverty should also be something that they reproached. After learning of the peaceful ways of Mahatma Ghandi, Dr. King inveighed against the Vietnam War in 1967, but not before his wife served as a mediator between public officials as a leader of many peace organizations. She even ventured to Switzerland as a Women's Strike for Peace delegate to a Disarmament Conference. Coretta Scott King's service to America did not end with her husband's assassination in 1968; she did not want to see his work left unfinished by the tragedy. She took his place in supporting striking garbage workers in Tennessee.She sought to inspire many people, particularly women, to help her in the battle against war, racism, and poverty. She was the driving force behind making her husband’s birthday a national holiday.The effort was awarded in 1986. In 1984, Mrs. King established the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta.This 23-acre site includes a Freedom Hall, which encircles Dr. King’s tomb; his childhood home, a museum, and a library of his writings. Coretta Scott King continued delivering speeches for people all over the world and wrote numerous books and newspaper columns. Today, one of the highest literary awards to receive is the Coretta Scott King Award, which has been won by such authors as Toni Morrison, Sharon Draper, Sharon Flake, and Christopher Paul Curtis. Most Salient Contribution Coretta Scott King was not a wallflower, nor was she simply an extension of her husband's triumphs. She was a notable Civil Rights leader in her own right. She selflessly fought to improve the lives of many people, not just African Americans.Of her many achievements her greatest would have to be the creation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. It is the first institution built to honor an African American Leader.Today, it acts as “a living monument” to Dr. King and his wife, and over 600,000 visit the site annually. Works Cited Evans/The New York Times, Michael. Coretta Scott King. 27 Apr. 1968. The New York Times. 2006. The New York Times Company. 19 Feb.2009 <http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/01/31/obituaries/31cnd-king.2.html>. Joseph, Dr. Eric. "The Life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King." The Gazette. 08 Feb 2006. Langston University. 12 Feb 2009 <http://media.www.lugazette.com/media/storage/paper816/news/2006/02/08/LuVoices/The-Life.Of.Mrs.Coretta.Scott.King-1603027-page2.shtml>. "Coretta Scott King Biography." Academy of Achievement. 07 Jan 2008. Museum of Living History. 9 Feb 2009 <http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/kin1bio-1>. "Coretta Scott King Dies at 78." Embassy of the United States of America: Montevido, Uruguay. 31 Jan 2006. U.S. Department of the State. 12 Feb 2009 <http://montevideo.usembassy.gov/usaweb/paginas/2006/06-036EN.shtml>. "Coretta Scott King Quotes." BrainyQuote. 2009. BrainyMedia.com. 19 Feb 2009 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/coretta_scott_king.html>. "King, Coretta Scott (1927-2006)." King Encyclopedia. Stanford University. 08 Feb 2009 <http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/encyclopedia/king_coretta_scott.htm>. "Mrs. Coretta Scott King: Human Rights Activist and Leader."thekingcenter.org. 2004. The King Center. 10 Feb 2009 <http://www.thekingcenter.org/csk/bio.html>.
Background
Recognized as the devoted and resilient wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King had an amazing and influential life of her own. Her life began in Heiberger, Alabama, where she was born to farmers Obadiah Scott and Bernice Scott. She had two siblings who were named Obie and Edythe. Because of segregation, she was forced to walk to a distant, run-down school, while her white counterparts rode a bus to a better school in a more convenient location. King attended a private high school called Lincoln High School. During this time, she picked cotton and did maid work to support herself. She was a strong student, especially in the area of music, and she graduated at the top of her class in 1945.
Upon receiving a scholarship, Scott continued her studies at Antioch College, where her older sister had pursued her higher education. There, her interest in the Civil Rights Movement began. The events taking place at that time inspired her to join the college's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music and Education in 1949 and went on to get a Master's Degree in Voice and Violin at the New England Conservatory of Music. She had one a fellowship to continue her education there, but she still had to work, this time as a maid and a mail order clerk. Scott met Dr. King during this time, who was pursuing a doctorate degree in theology at Boston University. They were married on June 18, 1953 by Martin Luther King, Sr. Notably, Mrs. King opted not to include the vow to obey her husband. They had four children together: Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine.
Career Highlights
During the beginning of her married life, Coretta Scott King stayed out of the limelight for the most part. Her husband had become a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Times of leisure abruptly ended with the turn of events that accompanied the Civil Rights Movement, notably the Montgomery Bus Boycott inspired by Rosa Parks, of which Dr. King was chosen to be a leader. To her husband's slight dismay, Mrs. King refused to stand on the sidelines. She spoke on the behalf of not only African Americans, but also other racial minorities, women, and homosexuals and advocated equality for all. She spoke before colleges, peace groups, and church congregations. Though she had given up singing as a career, King was able to make good use of her musical training by participating in Freedom Concerts, which exhibited music selections, poetry, and speeches.
The couple's voyages to various world sites, particularly their honeymoon in Mexico in 1958, showed them that poverty should also be something that they reproached. After learning of the peaceful ways of Mahatma Ghandi, Dr. King inveighed against the Vietnam War in 1967, but not before his wife served as a mediator between public officials as a leader of many peace organizations. She even ventured to Switzerland as a Women's Strike for Peace delegate to a Disarmament Conference.
Coretta Scott King's service to America did not end with her husband's assassination in 1968; she did not want to see his work left unfinished by the tragedy. She took his place in supporting striking garbage workers in Tennessee. She sought to inspire many people, particularly women, to help her in the battle against war, racism, and poverty. She was the driving force behind making her husband’s birthday a national holiday. The effort was awarded in 1986. In 1984, Mrs. King established the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. This 23-acre site includes a Freedom Hall, which encircles Dr. King’s tomb; his childhood home, a museum, and a library of his writings.
Coretta Scott King continued delivering speeches for people all over the world and wrote numerous books and newspaper columns. Today, one of the highest literary awards to receive is the Coretta Scott King Award, which has been won by such authors as Toni Morrison, Sharon Draper, Sharon Flake, and Christopher Paul Curtis.
Most Salient Contribution
Coretta Scott King was not a wallflower, nor was she simply an extension of her husband's triumphs. She was a notable Civil Rights leader in her own right. She selflessly fought to improve the lives of many people, not just African Americans. Of her many achievements her greatest would have to be the creation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. It is the first institution built to honor an African American Leader. Today, it acts as “a living monument” to Dr. King and his wife, and over 600,000 visit the site annually.
Works Cited
Evans/The New York Times, Michael. Coretta Scott King. 27 Apr. 1968. The New York Times. 2006. The New York Times Company. 19 Feb. 2009 <http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/01/31/obituaries/31cnd-king.2.html>.
Joseph, Dr. Eric. "The Life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King." The Gazette. 08 Feb 2006. Langston University. 12 Feb 2009 <http://media.www.lugazette.com/media/storage/paper816/news/2006/02/08/LuVoices/The-Life.Of.Mrs.Coretta.Scott.King-1603027-page2.shtml>.
"Coretta Scott King Biography." Academy of Achievement. 07 Jan 2008. Museum of Living History. 9 Feb 2009 <http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/kin1bio-1>.
"Coretta Scott King Dies at 78." Embassy of the United States of America: Montevido, Uruguay. 31 Jan 2006. U.S. Department of the State. 12 Feb 2009 <http://montevideo.usembassy.gov/usaweb/paginas/2006/06-036EN.shtml>.
"Coretta Scott King Quotes." BrainyQuote. 2009. BrainyMedia.com. 19 Feb 2009 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/coretta_scott_king.html>.
"King, Coretta Scott (1927-2006)." King Encyclopedia. Stanford University. 08 Feb 2009 <http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/encyclopedia/king_coretta_scott.htm>.
"Mrs. Coretta Scott King: Human Rights Activist and Leader."thekingcenter.org. 2004. The King Center. 10 Feb 2009 <http://www.thekingcenter.org/csk/bio.html>.